California Black Bears Roar into MLP Mid-Season Quarterfinals: In a surprising twist at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament, California Black Bears have secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a dominant victory over the Florida Smash. After a previous defeat, the Black Bears made strategic roster changes, including adding Brandon French and substituting Michelle Esquivel.
These adjustments paid off well as Esquivel’s stellar performance alongside Amanda Hendry and Rafa Hewett drove them to victory in crucial doubles matchups. With their second consecutive win, the Black Bears now prepare to face the formidable Bay Area Breakers, while the Smash looks to rebound in the consolation bracket.
The California Black Bears have secured their spot in the MLP Mid-Season Tournament quarterfinals following a decisive DreamBreaker(what is dreambreaker?) victory over the Florida Smash.
Results Overview
Regardless of a previous 3-1 loss to Florida last month, strategic roster changes and key substitutions proved crucial for the Black Bears.
Adding Brandon French during the waiver period and substituting Michelle Esquivel for Susannah Barr proved significant. Esquivel presented her skills with standout performances alongside Amanda Hendry in women’s doubles and Rafa Hewett in mixed doubles, highlighting her exceptional play on the left side.
Hewett’s crucial role included an essential 7-3 victory over Travis Rettenmaier, securing California’s 21-17 victory and marking their second consecutive win after a challenging 0-6 start to the season.
Next, the Black Bears will face the No. 2 seed Bay Area Breakers in the quarterfinals, while the Smash moves to the consolation bracket to face the loser of the Atlanta Bouncers versus Frisco Pandas match.
| Team | WD | MD | MX1 | MX2 | DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Black Bears | 13 | 25 | 18 | 27 | 21 |
| Florida Smash | 25 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 17 |
In this match:
- WD (Women’s Doubles): California Black Bears 13 – Florida Smash 25
- MD (Men’s Doubles): California Black Bears 25 – Florida Smash 14
- MX1 (Mixed Doubles 1): California Black Bears 18 – Florida Smash 25
- MX2 (Mixed Doubles 2): California Black Bears 27 – Florida Smash 25
- DB (Deciding Contest): California Black Bears 21 – Florida Smash 17
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